Air compressor



A 2 9 a BM E O. L. FOWLER AIR COMPRESSOR Filed March a 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1924' TIS I SJOI o. L. FOWLER AIR COMPRESSOR Filed March 9, 1-923 3 Shafts-Sheet 1 l 0 & v-i

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mf'tiw O. L. FOWLER AIR COMPRESSOR Filed March 9 19 3 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVELQLOR @124 L. a

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. II, 1924..

STA

orrs 1.. rownnn, or LYnnaoox, new YORK.

m. coavrrnnss'oa.

Application filed March 9, 1923. Serial No. 623,839.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, 0115 L. Fowmnn'a citizen of the United States, residing at My invention relates generally to air or gas compressors and the object of my improvements is to provide a device of this class which shall be of simple construction and economical and efficient in operation.

In carrying my invention into effect, utilize the expansive force of steam or other suitable expanding gas or vapor by applying it directlyto compress the air instead of employing a piston or other mechanicah compressing device and I also provide means for conserving and utilizing practically all of such expansive force in-eifecting the compression. In this manner a very economical method of operation is provided with a minimum of expenditure for applied power. I

The invention will behest understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, Fig. 1 of which showsan end elevation of one form of the device and Fig.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showin exploslon chambers which may be used w en an explosive gas is used to effect the compression.

Fig. 4 shows a vertical cross section and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of a modified form of the device in which the compression chambers are arranged as a centrifugal fan, the exhaust fan or Figs. 1 and 2 being omitted.

Fig. 6 shows an end view and-Fig. 7 a vertical section onthe line 77, of Fig. 6, of a further modification in which two-sets or series of compression chambers are employed.

Referring to the drawings, A, indicates "a rotatable member, mounted on a shaft a and provided with means to effect its rotation as a pulley, P.

The member, of separated chambers, longitudinally thereof, the ends during a portion member, A, are closed by the faceplates, G,

, and during another portion of such A, is composed of a series of which,

revolution when they are opposite the ports,- D, D, are open to atmosphere and to the connected with passage,

a downwardly movin tion, 12, wh1ch contains air under pressure 2 a longitudinal section of the same on the line, 22 Fig. 1.-

blower shown in.

B, B, extending of the revolution of the chamber, E, in which is an exhaust fan or blower, F, (Fig. 2) mounted on the shaft, a. The compression of the air in the chem bers, B,l'iseffec ted by the admission thereto, in succession, of an expansible gas or vapor, as steam through steam pipe, G, the compressed air, or a portion of it being forced out through pipe, I-I, tothepoint of use or to a storage chamber, I. When a chamber in which air has been compressed passes away from connection with the source of pressure, it still contains air under pressure, and this is distributed to raise the pressure I p in other chambers.

Following the course of one of the chambers, B, through one revolution of the member, -A, I when it is in either of the posi tions indicated at 1, 2, 3, 4, it is connect d with atmosphere through the ports, '1), D,

and is filled with air at atmospheric pres- I sure. As itpasses out of position, 5, it is through the face plate, C, and the other end of whichis, at the moment, connected with chamber in the posiabove atmosphere.

The pressure in the two chambers is equalized, that in the upward moving chamber' being raised. Before the upward moving chamber passes the next succeeding downwardly moving chamber thus recelvlng a further increment K, which extends Y out of connection with passage, K, it is connected therethrough with of pressure; In the same mannerthe upwardly moving chamber is successively connected through each of the passages, L, M,

with two downwardly moving chambers sure than that in the upwardly moving chamber, so that it receives successive further increments of pressure. As the chamber passes from position, 8, to position,

it is connected with the port of steam pipe, G, steam from which enteringv the chamber compresses the air therein. to its maximum, forcing compressed air out through pipe, H, to the point of utilization or to reservoir, I. As the chamber moves; away from connection with steam pipe, G, and beginsits downward movement, it still successively passes the ports of passages,M," L, K, in the positions,'10, 11, 12 isgivenup to upwardly movingchambers connected with the opposite contains air under pressure? which, as it ends of said passages each of which contains airat higher presn positions, 11, 12, through passages, K,

tion ofmember, gine as indicated at,

\Vhen the chamber reaches position, 1, it is again connected with the open airand any steam, or other vapors or gases therein, is

swept out.

Instead of using the expansive force of steam to compress the air other expansive gases may be employed. Thus as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, an explosive liquid fuel may be fed in as from a'small reservoir, N, in which thetuel is under pressure from the air in reservoir, I. through pipe, Z). As a chamber. B, passes position. 8, the fuel is drawn in at high elocity through Venturi tube, (Z. and atomized and exploded as by an electric spark as indicated at, 0, thus compressing the air. Or the expansive force of internal or external combustion applied to a chamber. 0, arranged to connect with.

chambers, B, as they pass position, 8, may be employed as illustrated in Fig. 5. In either case the manner of compressing the air by applying directly thereto the expansive force of a gas or vapor is the same and the products of combustion or vapor employed and remaining pression chamber are swept out her passes the. ports, D,

A modification of the device is illustrated in Figures 4: and 5. In this case the blower or exhaust fan, F, is omitted and the chambers, B, are arranged as a centrifugal fan. If desired compressed air from reservoir, I, may be employed for effecting the rota- A, by means of a small en- R, Fig. 5.

I further modification is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this form of construction a second series of compression chambers, B, B, is rovided outside of the series of chambers, B, B. I

The primary or maximum compression may, as shown, be effected in one of the chambers of the series, B. As the chamber in the comas the cham- -moves away from the point of maximum compression it successively givesup pressure through passages M, L, K, i on the other side of the member, A, which are approaching the point where maximum compression is effected, in the manner above described. The chamber then reaches a point where it is connected with the passages, D, D, and through these with one of the chambers, B. The pressure in chamber, B, which may at this point equal onethird of the maximum pressure, is equalized with that in chamber, B, an the gases or vapors are swept out from chamber B, into chamber, B. Chamber, B, in turn, when gives 'up pressure, L, to corresponding chambers on the opposite side of member, A, and, in' passing through positions 1, 2, 3, 4, is swept clean of gases and" vapors and is filled with fresh air. By this means a greater proportion of the pressure induced other gas or I to chambers ,a series ofchainbers, ports bythe primary application of pressure to the air is conserved, than where a single series of chambers is employed.

It will be evident that various modifications of the details of the apparatus as shown may be made without departing from the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

-Thus by connecting the ports, D, D, with a vacuum chamber instead of with the open air. the apparatus may be used as a vacuum pump. as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and the claims are intended to cover the device as applied to such purpose.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure. by Letters Patent is I 1. The method of compressing air which consists in progressively increasing the pressure in an air chamber by successively connecting such chamber with a series of separate chambers each containing air at a higher pressure than that in the first mentioned chamber and finally subjecting the air in said chamber at the time of such connection to gas or vapor pressure to complete the compression of the air therein.

2. The method of obtaining compressed air which consists in compressing the air in a chamber byadmitting thereto gas or vaporunder pressure and drawing off a portion of the compressed air therefrom and then successively connecting such chamber with a series of other chambers containing air at lower pressure than that in the first mentioned chamber so as to raise the air pressure in said other chambers.

3. In a device combination of a compression chamber, .JIIGZIDS for applying a gas or vapor under pressure directly to the air in such chamber so as to compress the same, means for drawing oft a portion ofthe compressed air from the chamber and means for utilizing the pressure remaining in said chamber to raise the air pressure in other similar chambers.

In an air compressing device the combination ot'a rotatable member composed of arranged to successively connect said chambers with the open air during a portion of the revolution of said member, means for closing the chambers from the air during another portion of the revolution of said member, and means for successively compressing the air in said chambers.

5. 'In-a device for compressing air the combination of a rotatablemember composed of a series of chambers, ports arranged to successively connect said chambers with the hers from the open air tion of the revolution of for compressing ,air the of said member are connected with chambers on the other side of said member.

7 In a device for compressi air the.

- combination of a series of compresslon chambers, a second series of chambers arranged outside of the first named series of chamhers, means for compressing air in the first named series of chambers by admitting pressure means for transferring the gas or vapor from the first named series of chambers to the second series of chambers and. means for discharging the gas or vapor from the second series of chambers to the atmosphere.

8. In an air compressing device the combination of two sets of compression chambers, means fol-compressing air in chambers of one set by the application thereto of a gas or vapor under pressure, means for discharging the gas or vapor from the chambers of one set to the chambers of the other set and means for discharging such gas or vapor to the open air.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature, this 5th day of March'1923.

OTIS L. FOWLER. 

